New Delhi: The Australian government has announced ten merit-based scholarships for students from Asia and Indian scholars are being considered "deserving" candidates.

Indian students would be the "best and deserving candidates" for the Prime Minister's Australia Asian Endeavour awards announced recently, according to the Australian High Commissioner to India, John McCarthy.

"I am sure that India will provide some of the best and deserving candidates for these scholarships. The students have shown a keen interest in studying in Australia in recent years. The Australian government is committing $14.9 million over four years to establish the scholarship programme and I am confident that this will yield beneficial results," McCarthy said in a statement here on Tuesday.

The Endeavour awards are a part of the the Australian government's internationally competitive, merit-based scholarship programme for students from Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Europe and the Americas to undertake study in any field in Australia.

Commencing in 2010, ten scholarships will be awarded to the top 10 scholars from Asia each year. Around 40 awards are also available to Australian students for one year study and internship or work in Asia.

According to the high commissioner's office, India is now the second top source country for Australia's international education industry, with over 97,000 Indian enrolments in Australia in 2008. Around 102 Indian students have received study and research scholarships from the Australian government in the past 18 months. IANS